Intermittent four wheel drive

Silverscout

Silverscout

Member
There's a problem with my four wheel drive. I’ve been on several runs where my four wheel drive works just as it should only to have the front axle disengage later on that trip.

I’ve checked the axle and the hubs and shafts seem fine. I’ve jacked the truck up and all four tires get power. But after a bit of four wheeling I loose power to the front axle.

Does any one have any explanation for this phenomenon?
 
Swap in another Dana 20, that would be my next guess if everything else in the front checks out fine.
 
silverscout said:
there's a problem with my four wheel drive. I’ve been on several runs where my four wheel drive works just as it should only to have the front axle disengage later on that trip.

I’ve checked the axle and the hubs and shafts seem fine. I’ve jacked the truck up and all four tires get power. But after a bit of four wheeling I loose power to the front axle.

Does any one have any explanation for this phenomenon?
Click to expand...

My opinion is it's simply jumping out of "4l" just far enough to allow the front output to disengage while it "appears" to still be engaged.

This is the beginnings of the true "jumps out of 4l under load" complaint that is solved most of the time redneck-fashion by rigging a ratchet strap or turnbuckle to the bulkhead and locking down the lever!

This is what was going on in this thread:

http://www.forums.IHPartsAmerica.com/transfer-case-tech/4067-Dana-20-rebuild.html

In one case I helped another forum member with regarding this same issue...a matchbook had fallen into the transfer case lever boot and impeded full lever travel...yes 4l appeared to be engaged, but in actuality the shift rail was not quite placed in the proper position to lock in the poppet and the front axle was not "fully" engaged...a real freak deal but the guy thought he'd need to have the tc replaced. Instead, he just found the matchbook and then was able to git "unstuck" out of the creekbed he was stuck in when he called me!
 
Thanks fellas, good info. I have the shifter boot off and took a peak at the linkage, which looks ok. I have been witness to what your talking about michael and it tends to be loud event. For my rig, it happens quietly and at the worst times. Which makes me think its not internal. There's no pop due to drive-train pressure.

The strange part is the reengagement. I cant get the front axle to engage for quite some time. Usually after I get home.
 
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